bare rooted

[suee]

Please could someone explain the difference berween "bare rooted" and (presumably!) not bare rooted stock?
Thanks, Sue.

[Nicos]

Just to give you a basic answer.... bare rooted is just that! Sometimes they also have a little bit of compost around the roots in a small plastic bag .Those grown in pots are ...pot grown! Larger trees can have their rootballs contained in sacking. I think the time of year and type of plant makes a difference to how it is prepared for sale. I'm sure someone else can give you a more in depth explanation and the pro's and cons of each type?

[suee]

Thanks Nicos - so there is no great mystery after all!
Sue.

[Jaxom]

At this time of year bare rooted plants can be sent by post more economically. Shops that would not normally carry nursery stock at other times of the year also trade in fruit trees and perennial plants due to the fact that they are dormant and need very little if any moisture to survive.
Pot grown trees and plants are often the only option out of the dormant period, and heavy post and packaging costs are passed on to customers by many nursery growers in order to keep prices of their goods down.
Some charge a flat rate that makes individual items rather expensive. This same flat rate also can work in the buyer’s favour if they buy a larger number of items. On the reverse side of this some nursery growers charge carriage per plant and this works in the reverse way to the flat rates. It is always worth shopping around for the best bargain.
Bare rooted stock needs to be soaked in a bucket overnight or for at least a couple of hours prior to planting.
Jax

[andrewo]

Cheaper

Bare rooted can often be half or third of the price (it is really worthwhile if you are establishing a hedge, really cheap compared to in the green). I have always bought my trees bare rooted, not only because its cheaper but I then know what soil I'm planting in them and cut down the potential of transmitting infections from the soil or worse still, chemicals in the soil.

Andrewo

[suee]

Thanks again - I see the sense now. I must say I was impressed by prices in the W store (mentioned in Cherry tree strand below). I bought fruit nets, huge planters, vermiculite - at a fraction of the prices elsewhere (not advertising but just illustrating the point about cheaper bare roots!)

[nots so bad lad]

same here

Hi suee glad you found some bargains in wilkos hope you dont get confused like me hedelfinger cherry but some help ful people on here to advice hey? Got some good seed potatoes from wilkos as well.

go for it and enjoy your self thats what its all about hey

[andrewo]

Wilkos

Wilkos is a god send for the thrifty gardener, especially around now and March when they start to get rid of everything. Got my first blackcurrant from there and it thrived for many years before biting the dust - and that was more my fault than anything but I now have a bay which I bought for £1.99, it was only a short thing when I bought it but now it's 4' and being shaped into a nice ball (I saw one of the same size at a local garden centre and they wanted £35), just shows what a good find and great patience can achieve (It's taken 5 years but at least I can say I did it!).

Andrewo

[stevep]

could you please tell me what vermiculite is please

[nick the grief]

Hi Steve.

Perlite & Vermiculite are both natural rocks that are a type of silica.
When they are heated they expand due to the water content of them.

They are used in potting composts to help keep it open but retain some moisture (if that make sense).

Perlite is the white stuff that looks like polystyrene beads (as per bean bags) and Vermicutlite is usually a beige colour.

Vermiculite can be used to give a thin covering when seed sowing as it keeps a moist micro climate aroind the seed but lets some light through.

I'm off for a lie down now, my brain aches